Ventricular Septal Defect Surgery

What is ventricular septal defect surgery?

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) surgery is a type of heart surgery. It's done to correct a hole between the left and right ventricles of the heart.

The heart has 4 chambers: 2 upper (atria) and 2 lower (ventricles). Blood that is high in oxygen flows from the left atrium to the left ventricle and out to the body, where the vital organs use the oxygen. Blood with less oxygen flows from the right atrium to the right ventricle and out to the lungs. There, it picks up more oxygen. Normally, a wall (septum) is present between the left and right atria and between the left and right ventricles. A child with a VSD has a hole in the wall between the left and right ventricles. The hole lets blood flow abnormally from the left ventricle into the right ventricle. As a result, too much blood may go to the lungs.

During this surgery, a surgeon makes a cut down the front of the chest and divides the breastbone to reach the heart. A heart-lung machine is used to pump blood and act as the lungs during the surgery. Then the surgeon patches up the hole between the ventricles. Over time, the child’s own cells grow over the patch, anchoring it in place even more.

Why might my child need ventricular septal defect surgery?

The purpose of this surgery is to ease symptoms caused by the VSD and to prevent future symptoms. No one knows what causes most cases of this common heart defect.

Not everyone with a VSD needs to have the hole repaired. Very small holes in the ventricular septum may not let much blood pass between the ventricles. In these cases, the heart and lungs don’t have to work harder and no repairs are needed. These smaller holes don’t cause any symptoms. Sometimes these small holes will close up on their own naturally. Your child’s healthcare provider might wait to see whether that happens before planning to do a repair, especially in a very young child.

If your child has a larger VSD, he or she may need some type of repair. Infants and children with larger VSDs often have symptoms like breathing faster and harder than normal. They may also fail to gain weight normally. A large, unrepaired VSD can eventually cause elevated pressure in the blood vessels in the lungs. The higher pressure can lead to decreased oxygen levels in the body.

Healthcare providers often recommend some type of repair for children who have a large VSD, even if they don’t have symptoms yet. It can prevent long-term damage to the lungs. Healthcare providers often do the surgery in infants or children. Sometimes adults also need this type of repair if their VSD was not found during childhood.

Although surgery is still the standard of care, a minimally invasive procedure using cardiac catheterization may be an option to fix the VSD for some children. This approach uses a long, flexible tube (catheter) inserted through a blood vessel in the groin instead of open heart surgery. This is a newer technique that may have a higher rate of complication. But it may also lead to faster recovery times than surgery. Ask your child’s healthcare provider about the pros and cons of surgery or another repair procedure.

What are the risks of ventricular septal defect surgery?

Most children do well with VSD surgery. But complications do sometimes develop. Specific risk factors may vary based on age, the size of the defect, and other health problems. Possible risks include:

Excess bleeding

Infection

Blood clot, which can lead to stroke or other problems

Abnormal heart rhythm, which can rarely cause death

Heart block, which can make a pacemaker necessary

Complications from anesthesia

Late complications are also possible. But they are rare. These might include problems with the heart valves. Very rarely, the patch used to fix the defect might become loose, requiring another surgery. Ask your child’s healthcare provider about the specific risk factors for your child.

How do I help my child get ready for ventricular septal defect surgery?

Ask your child’s healthcare provider how to help your child get ready for VSD repair. Your child should not eat or drink anything after midnight before the day of the surgery. Your child may also need to stop taking any medicine beforehand.

Your child’s healthcare provider may want some extra tests before the surgery. These might include:

Chest X-ray

Electrocardiogram, to look at the heart rhythm

Blood tests, to check general health

Echocardiogram, to look at heart anatomy and blood flow through the heart

What happens during ventricular septal defect surgery?

Talk with your child’s healthcare provider about what to expect during the surgery. In general:

Your child will be given anesthesia before the surgery starts. It’s usually done through an IV. Your child will sleep deeply and painlessly during the operation. He or she won’t remember it afterward.

The repair will take several hours.

The surgeon makes a cut (incision) down the middle of the chest. He or she will separate the breastbone to reach the heart.

Your child will be attached to a heart-lung machine. This machine will act as your child’s heart and lungs during the procedure.

The surgeon usually reaches the wall between the septum by looking through one of the valves of the heart. The surgeon closes the hole in the ventricle with a tightly woven patch material.

Once the procedure has been completed, the heart-lung machine will be removed.

Your child’s breastbone will be put back together with wires.

The surgeon will close the muscle and the skin. A bandage will be applied.

What happens after ventricular septal defect surgery?

Ask your child’s healthcare provider what will happen after the VSD surgery. In most cases, the surgery will permanently cure the VSD. No activity restrictions will be needed. After the procedure in the hospital, you can generally expect the following:

Your child may spend several hours in a recovery room. Or the surgery team may take him or her straight to the intensive care unit.

For a while after the procedure, your child might also need antibiotics before certain medical and dental procedures. They can help prevent an infection of the heart valves.

For a short time after the procedure, your child will need regular checkups by a cardiologist. After that, your child will need to see a cardiologist only now and then. After recovering from surgery, most children are able to lead normal lives without any activity restrictions.

Next steps

Before you agree to the test or the procedure for your child make sure you know:

The name of the test or procedure

The reason your child is having the test or procedure

What results to expect and what they mean

The risks and benefits of the test or procedure

When and where your child is to have the test or procedure

Who will do the procedure and what that person’s qualifications are

What would happen if your child did not have the test or procedure

Any alternative tests or procedures to think about

When and how will you get the results

Who to call after the test or procedure if you have questions or your child has problems